Vacuum fuel-feed device



J. E. GENN.

VACUUM FUEL FEED DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 22, 1918.

1,338,008, Patented Apr. 27, 1920.

QEHZWI 5 a 1 4 g a ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN E. GENN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO STEW'ART-WARNER SPEEDOMETER CORPORATION, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA.

VACUUM FUEL-FEED DEVICE.

Application filed November 22, 1918.

tain new and useful Improvements in Vacuum Fuel-Feed Devices, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

The purpose of this invention is to provide improved and simplified construction of valve operating mechanism for a liquid fuel feed device. It consists of the elements and features of construction shown and described, as indicated in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical axial section of a vacuum fuel feed device having the valve mechanisms embodied in this invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view.

' Fig. 3 is a section at the line, 33, on Fi 1.

Fig. 4 is a section at the line, 4-4, on

The invention is herein shown as applled to a familiar form of vacuum fuel feed tank of which the main outer tank, 1, constitutes the reserve chamber, and the inner member,

2, the vacuum chamber, both closed at the top by a cap, 3, by means of which also they are secured together by angle flange members, 4 and 5, with gaskets, 6, in a manner requiring no explanation and not constituting the present inventlon. The ca member, 3, has the usual connections at 8 and 9, respectively, for suction, atmosphere inlet and liquid fuel supply. The atmosphere inlet is controlled by a valve, 10, and the suction connection by a valve, 13, the former seating inwardly and the latter seating outwardly,that is, each valve seating in the direction of the suction and adapted to be opened against the suction when there is suction operating through the suction connection or by virtue of partial vacuum previously produced in the vacuum chamber. The valve operating mechanism comprises two wire skeleton carriers pivoted together and to the cap member which constitutes their support, and

connected by a spring stretched across the pivotal axis. 15 is the float carrier which is made of a single plece of wire hav- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 27, 1920.

Serial No. 263,690.

- ing its ends bent to form pintles, 15, and

bent at 15 at two points equally distant from the middle to form two parallel-extending arms, the middle portion between which constitutes across bar, said two parallel arms being bent to form a loop, 15,

whereby the two parallel arms are adapted to be sprung apart to admit between them and to hold by engagement with their loops a float, 16,3vhich is more or less ball-shaped or otherwise formed so as to have two oppositely-bulging sides which protrude into and effect the engagement of the float with the two loops, 15, 15, the loops being elongated to allow the float a short range of movement up and down with respect to the carrier. These loops being elongated in an oblique up and down direction, the float gains some leverage as it descends along the loops. 17 is the valve carrier which also consists of a single piece of wire having its ends bent to form eyes, 17*, with which the pintles, 15, are engaged respectively, the wire being. bent in the same direction at two points equally distant from the .middle point of the length of the wire at 17*, 17 and adjacent these bends being bent to form loops or eyes, 17, 17 for engagement of the stems of the valves, 10 and 13, the two carriers when pivoted together by the engagement of the pintles, 15 and the eyes, 17*, are both pivoted to lugs, 3, which extend down from the cap, 3, the pintles, 15*, being entended through the eyes, 17 to eflect the pivotal engagement with said lugs. The two cross bars, 15 17 are connected together by a contractile coil spring, 18.

The device is adapted to operate in the manner of familiar float-operated valveactuating mechanism in vacuum fuel feed tanks, the rising of the float as the liquid rises in the vacuum chamber first causing it to move along the loops to the limit of play of the float in the elongated loops and then operating to carry up the floatcarrying end of the float carrier, 15, until the end of the spring, 18, attached to the cross bar of that member extends slightly above the pintle axis, whereupon the reaction of the spring completes the throw of the carrier and float upward for seating the suction valve and unseating the atmosphere Valve; and contrariwfise, upon the fall of the liquid level in the chamber, the

float descending with the falling liquid first moves along the loops to the limit of play and then carries the end of the spring, 18, attached to the cross bar, 15 down past the pintle axis, whereupon the reaction of the spring reverses the operation, depressing the float and retracting the valves down ward, seating the atmosphere valve and unseating the suction valve.

I claim 1. In a structure for the purpose indicated, in combination with a support having the ports which are to be valve controlled and the valves for controlling said ports, a float-operated valve actuating mechanism comprising a skeleton float carrier, and a skeleton valve carrier,pivoted together and to the support and a contrac tile spring connecting said carriers extending past their pivotal axis.

2. In a construction. defined in claim 1, each of said carriers consisting of a single iece of wire one havin the endsbent to' form eyes, and the other having its ends bent to form alined pintles for engaging the eyes for pivotally connecting said car riers together.

3. In a construction defined in claim 1, the float carrier consisting of a single piece of wire having its opposite ends/bent for pivotal enga ement with the valve carrier, and its middIe portion forming a cross bar,

adapted to be sprung apart to admit a float between them and to engage such float in the loop opening.

6. In the structure defined in claim 1, the float carrier comprising two arms each consisting of a loop, a float engaged in the loops and having play up and down in the loops.

7 In the structure defined in claim 1, the float carrier comprising two arms each having a loop elongated in an oblique upand-down direction and a float engaged in the loops having play in the direction of said elongation, whereby the float gains leverage as it descends along the loops In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Chicago, Illinois, this 13th day of November, 1918.

JOHN E. GENN. 

